Title: Senior Assistant Public Defender / Deputy Public Defender - Fairfax

State Role Title: Legal Services Manager I/II

Hiring Range: $107,037.00/$118,915.00 + State Benefits + Local Salary Supplement

Agency: Indigent Defense Commission

Location: FAIRFAX 308

Agency Website: www.vadefenders.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) Fairfax Public Defender Office has openings for attorneys who are committed to advocating on behalf of indigent clients. The Senior Assistant Public Defender and Deputy Public Defender will handle trial and appellate cases. The VIDC is dedicated to protecting and defending the rights of our clients through zealous, compassionate, high-quality legal advocacy. The Senior Assistant Public Defender and the Deputy Public Defender reports to the Public Defender of the Fairfax Office and is employed at-will. These positions include a local salary supplement.

Duties for the Senior Assistant Public Defender:
Duties include conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, and litigating pretrial motions. The attorney will be responsible for trying cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts, as well as identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. The Senior Assistant Public Defender will serve as a role model for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture. This position includes assisting the Chief Public Defender in supervising and training attorneys.

Duties for the Deputy Public Defender:
Duties include conducting client and witness interviews, working with staff investigators to investigate cases, filing pretrial motions, and litigating motions. The attorney will be responsible for trying cases in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts, and identifying appropriate sentencing alternatives for clients. The Deputy will serve as a role model for client-centered representation and collaborative office culture. This position includes assisting the Chief Public Defender in supervising and training attorneys. Duties of the Deputy position also include serving as the acting Chief Public Defender in the absence of the Chief Public Defender, oversight of defense teamwork by providing direction and guidance for case preparation, trial strategies, client contacts and communications, plea negotiation, appellate practice, and sentencing advocacy. Additional duties include working with the Chief Public Defender to ensure that attorneys and staff receive appropriate training and continuing education, and to ensure all attorneys receive and maintain certification for court appointments and fully comply with the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel, submitting input and carefully managing the office budget, and preparing and ensuring all required administrative reports and documentation are timely submitted.

The IDC is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our workforce. We encourage and welcome qualified applicants of all identities, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D) and Virginia State Bar admission or eligibility for admission by waiver, as well as extensive criminal litigation experience, comprehensive knowledge of Virginia Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, and the Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel are required.
• Experience as an advocate for indigent populations.
• The qualified applicant will be well-organized and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Teamwork is highly valued in this office, and the qualified applicant will have demonstrated proficiency in working with others as a member of the criminal defense team to achieve successful outcomes for clients.
• A valid driver’s license and the means to travel to all courts and regional jails is required.
• Applicants must have the willingness to try cases and the desire to improve as a trial attorney.
• Applicants must possess the ability to lead, mentor, and manage, and have at least three years of experience as a criminal defense attorney.

Additional Qualifications for the Deputy Public Defender:

• Applicants must have demonstrated history and proficiency with leadership, management, and mentoring capabilities, and have five or more years of experience as a criminal defense attorney.
• Applicants should have experience mentoring new attorneys and interns.
• Applicants should have experience developing professional relationships with other attorneys across the state and nationally.
• Applicants should have experience working with restorative justice programs.
• Applicants should be able to demonstrate competency by being highly organized.
• Applicants should be familiar with services in the Fairfax area and have a demonstrated ability to work with other community stakeholders to advance services for our clients.

Additional Considerations

Significant experience working in a public defender's office will be strongly considered.

Special Instructions

Applications for this position require a cover letter and resume. Failure to submit both may disqualify you from further consideration.

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

While creating an account through the state system will save your basic information (please remember your username and password), applications are NOT saved for future openings. We encourage you to apply to any and all of the positions you may be considering within the IDC.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. IDC uses the E-Verify system and does not provide sponsorship.

Applications for this position must be submitted electronically through this website. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted. IDC does not accept “see resume” as a response to any question. Information on the application is the primary source used for screening the position. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested, during the application and/or interview process.

This position qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) depending on your type of loan.

Edits cannot be made to the application once you have received a confirmation number. Phone calls are not accepted regarding an inquiry into the status of an application. Please login to the RMS system for status updates.

Contact Information

Name: Ashley Washington

Phone: 804-662-7249

Email: recruiting@vadefenders.org

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.